Rand Water maintenance: Johannesburg, Ekurhuleni, others to be affected – check your area

Residents of Soshanguve and surrounding areas such as Mabopane, Ga-Rankuwa, and Winterveldt are enduring a severe water shortage caused by ongoing scheduled maintenance at the Hartebeeshoek Reservoir, managed by Rand Water. The maintenance began on 3 July and is expected to continue until 18 July, leaving many communities struggling to access sufficient water.

Although some areas experienced temporary relief over the past weekend, significant parts of Soshanguve remain without reliable water supply. The City confirmed that water supply was restored to areas including Block KK, GG, BB, DD, and parts of Ga-Rankuwa. However, the Soshanguve L reservoir has been slow to recover, resulting in continued shortages in Blocks L, VV, WW, XX, and UU.

Minister of Water and Sanitation, Pemmy Majodina, conducted an oversight visit to the reservoir on Sunday to monitor progress. She assured residents that the maintenance is on schedule to finish by 18 July. On Monday, our inspection team will be on site to inspect and allow water to flow, and we will be testing water quality, she said. Majodina emphasised the importance of well-functioning reservoirs and effective municipal distribution to ensure bulk water reaches the communities.

Deputy Mayor Eugene Modise, who accompanied the Minister, acknowledged that high-lying areas are slower to fill but assured residents that the City is doing everything possible to resolve the situation. Historically, we had problems with the Block L reservoir, but efforts are ongoing to address this. All low-lying areas are currently receiving water, he explained.

Residents have voiced frustration over the shortage of roving water tankers, which many rely on for water collection during this crisis. Modise explained that initial plans to use a stadium in Soshanguve as a distribution point fell short due to rapid depletion of water sources. The City has since identified additional hydrants in Rosslyn, Waalmansthal, and along the R101 near Soshanguve to improve distribution logistics. Councilors have also nominated coordinators to manage tanker deployment more efficiently.

The crisis is expected to worsen temporarily as Rand Water will shut down supply again on Monday to continue scheduled maintenance, with completion anticipated by Friday, 18 July. Majodina reiterated confidence that the project would conclude on time.

The Hartebeeshoek Reservoir serves as a critical water source not only for the City of Tshwane but also for Ekurhuleni, the City of Johannesburg, Madibeng Municipality, South African Airways, and Airports Company South Africa. Authorities have urged residents to remain patient and cooperative as efforts to restore full water supply continue.

Water Disruptions Expected Across Johannesburg and Ekurhuleni During Rand Water Maintenance

Parallel to challenges in Soshanguve, Johannesburg residents have been warned of potential water disruptions lasting up to four days due to Rand Water’s planned maintenance on its O2 pipeline from Monday to Friday.

This maintenance will affect areas supplied by the Sandton and Midrand systems, as well as reservoirs such as Alexander Park, Linksfield, and Randjieslaagte. Johannesburg Water spokesperson Nombusi Shabalala advised residents to prepare for low water pressure or complete outages during this period.

Similarly, the City of Ekurhuleni has been notified of a planned shutdown from early Tuesday morning to Friday morning (15 to 18 July), affecting water supply to Kempton Park, Edenvale, Bedfordview, Germiston, and Thembisa. Full restoration could take up to eight days, especially in high-lying or pump-dependent areas.

The City will deploy water tankers to affected areas and communicate tanker points and routes via digital platforms. Residents in the affected suburbs—from Kempton Park CBD and Glen Marais to Germiston and parts of Thembisa—are urged to make necessary preparations to minimise inconvenience.

While the maintenance work is essential to ensure a stable and safe water supply in the long term, it has clearly placed pressure on many communities. Cooperation, patience, and preparedness remain key as authorities work diligently to restore full services.

List of Affected Areas